Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has announced he will forgo his final year of eligibility to turn pro and enter the NFL draft this spring.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior led the Cardinals to a 12-1 record this season and capped his college career by passing for 447 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-9 victory over Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Saturday.

Bridgewater, who has already earned a degree, released the following statement on the Louisville website:

"After discussing all the options with my family and the coaching staff, I have decided to forgo my senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. This was an extremely difficult decision for me. I can't express how much my time at Louisville has meant to me. These past three years have allowed me to mature as a person and leave the university as better person and with my degree in hand, which was one of my goals. I will cherish every moment on the field and off the field, and every bond that I built. I will forever represent the university with the utmost pride and respect. I want to extend a special thank you to my teammates, Tom Jurich, all the academic staff and professors, the coaching staff, support staff, students and the Cardinals' fan base.

"I didn't know much about Louisville when I made the decision to attend, but in the end, it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made."

Bridgewater completed 71% of his passes this season as he threw for 3,970 yards and 31 touchdowns. He finishes his career with 9,817 yards passing and 72 touchdown tosses in 39 games.